Hydraulic blower and pressure apparatus for gas-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. STUBBERS. 7

HYDRAULIC BLOWER AND PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR GAS MACHINES.

Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. STUBBERS. HYDRAULIC BLOWER AND PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR GAS MAOHlNES.

m l A AIAAA livrrn STATES Pn'rnr JOSEPH STUBBERS, OF COVINGTON, KENTUGKY.

HYDRAULIC BLOWER AND PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR GAS-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,538, dated February 22, 1898. Application filed December 27, 1895. Serial No. 578,492. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH STUBBERS,'a citizen of the United States, residing in Oovington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Blowers and Pressure Apparatus for Gas-Machines and other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to an air-pump or to feed and pressure devices for passing or forcing atmospheric air in a steady and moderate current through carburetors of gasunachines in which gasolene or other similar volatile hydrocarbon is used and vaporized; and it consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of my invention, the exit-pipe which leads to the carburetor (not shown) being shown broken off and the air tanks or cylinders in their operating positions of forcing or blowing air under regulated pressure to said carburetor, as indicated by the numerous arrows; Fig. 2, a plan View of my invention; Fig. 3, a central sectional elevation, partly broken and made full size, showing the hydraulic raising devices for the pressure-tank and their controlling-valve mechanism, the valves being in the position they occupy when the pressure-tank is descending while feeding and forcing air to and through the carbureter and at almost the close of its downstroke just preparatory to a quick completion thereof to change to the upstroke and open the fiuid-pressure valve; Fig. 4;, a broken sectional plan on line :1; it of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a sectional plan on line 1 1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a sectional plan on line 2 2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a sectional plan on line 3 3 of Fig. 3, but omitting the flange or disk below; and Fig. 8, a plan view of the coupling-block for connecting the water-valve stems with their vertical liftrod or shifter seen in Fig. 3, said lift-rod being shown in cross-section in this View, but with the piston chamber or cylinder and the lower parts omitted.

A represents the blower or pressure tank, and B the governor or auxiliary blower-tank adjacent thereto. Each of these tanks comprises a vertical open-bottomed vessel. of cylindrical inverted cup form, with its lower open end plunged or immersed in a watertank A and B, respectively, similar to the usual gas holders or receivers. Both these water-tanks are supported on a skeleton frame composed of legs a, connected by bracebars a. (See Fig. 1.) The tank B is some what shallower than tank A, its top being on a level with that of said tank A and its bottom almost mid-height, so that a vertical airtrap C may be centrally constructed and placed beneath it, reaching downward below the level of the bottom of tank A.

A water-passage b is constructed at the bottom of tank B and leads into the adjacent side of tank A, whereby a supply and circulation of water may be maintained for said tank B and between the said two water-tanks.

c is a perpendicular overflow-pipe whose lower end taps the bottom of the water-tank A and whose upper end leads outward for suitable discharge. This arrangement enables me to float a quantity of oil a on the water in both tanks to keep the interior thereof well lubricated and also avoid rust or corrosion therein, which is a material factor in devices wherein so much moisture is present.

D represents a vertical air-conducting pipe having an expanded hopper-mouth cl at its upper end, which is arranged above the level of the water Within the blower-tank A. d is a suitable brace-bar projecting laterally from the said hopper-mouth d. The lower end of said pipe is formed into a horizontal elbow, which taps or enters the trap 0 near its bottom. The hopper-mouth cl has a rigid cover or horizontal top plate, which is orificed at d to furnish an air-inlet D, representing a closing disk or valve therefor.

D is a weighted lever pivotally mounted in an arched cross-bar on said hopper-mouth top plate. From the inner end of lever D the valve-stem D is swung, the said valve D being centrally mounted at the lower end of the latter. This valve is preferably composed of a flexible diaphragm or disk of soft rubber, leather, or the like, and is held on said stem between upper and lower metal disks and d, respectively, the disk (1 being perforated to admit the air-pressure to the hot E represents the air-inlet opening or orifice in the top of the pressure-tank A to one side the center, and E is a controlling-valve therefor. This valve has a pivoted weighted lever e, mounted on the tank-top, and is composed of a flexible rubber disk 6, mounted on a vertical stem 6 between metal disks 6 e and corresponds to valve D, said stem being suspended from the inner end of the lever e and the outer weighted end of the latter projecting horizontally beyond the edge of the tank. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

E E are weights placed in pockets E on the inner face of the pressure-tank A near its lower edge to accelerate and facilitate its downstroke in operation.

a is a roller mounted in a bracket or arm a on the upper edge or rim of the water-tank A in the line or path of downward movement of the outer end of the weighted lever 6, whereby the valve E is automatically and positively thrown open at the proper time in said downstroke of the pressure-tank. This roller reduces the resistance of contact therewith of the said valve-lever e to a minimum and at once presents a rotating laterally-resistless stop on the water-tank for the proper operation of said valve, which will hereinafter be more particularly described.

F represents a central vertical cylinder standing upright in the water-tank A and terminating at its upper end just below the level of the upper edge or rim of said tan-k, an inwardly-flanged collar or orificed cap f fitting over said upper end, and the inner end of brace-bar d aforesaid being attached to the cylinder near said upper end to properly support it against lateral movement.

G represents a cylindrical stock or barrel having a large circular flange g constructed thereon near its upper end. This stock is passed downward through a central orifice of corresponding diameter in the bottom of water-tank A, and a washer g is slid thereover, (the said bottom of the water-tank intervening,') and a nut 9 used on the external screwthread G of said stock to secure the latter firmly in place. An external screw-thread is provided on the inner upper end of the stock to which the internally-threaded lower end of the upright cylinder F is attached, as best seen in Fig. 3. Stock G is constructed with a main vertical inlet water-passage H, whose center is a little to one side the center thereof. This main passage is internally screwthreaded to accommodate an elbow 72., into which enters the horizontal water-pressure pipe H.

I is a controlling-valve in the pipe H, and I is a perpendicular pipe forming an air chamber or ordinary cushion in the waterpressure pipe preceding said valve I, as customary in pumps.

J represents a valve mounted on the threaded portion near the lower end of a long vertical stem or rod j and adapted to control the narrow inlet-opening and passage-way leading vertically at j, then horizontally at 7' and then vertically again at through the said stock Ginto the cylinder F. This valve is composed of a countersunk internally-threaded ring of metal, in whose countersunk portion a ring or gasket f is mounted, the latter really forming the valve proper and made of rubber, leather, or fiber, either of which is best adapted to seating around the said narrow inletopening. The stem of this valve is narrowed or turned down to someextent just above the valve, so that'the water shall readily pass upward around it to the said passage-ways and thence to the cylinder F. The lower end of this stem is smooth and engages the smooth central opening of a perforated nut or disk J, which latter forms a guide for said stem and prevents any wabbling at its lower end, and the perforations 13, therein permit the upward passage or entrance of the water from the pressure-service. The said disk J is externally screw-threaded to engage the said internallythreaded main passage H. The horizontal portion j of the inlet passage-way is constructed or bored from the side of the stock and then the opening is part-way filled by means of a plug 1), as seen in Fig. 5.

K is a block lying within the lower portion of cylinder F and having an internally-threaded upright boss 70, from which projects upward a perpendicular rod L, a lock-nut l properly securing the threaded lower end of said rod in the boss. The upper end of the inletvalve stem j engages an opening in the block K and is held firmly therein by means of a set-screw 10, Figs. 3 and 8. The upper end of the inlet-valve stem j may also be screwthreaded to engage a threaded opening in block K, asshown in Fig. 3, to act as an extra precaution against accidental displacement in the event the set-screw becomes loose and also to enable a delicate adjustment of the valve when necessary in fitting up the machine or in case of wear and the like.

M represents an outlet-valve mounted on the bottom of block K (see Fig. 3) and constructed the same as valve J with a countersunk ring having a rubber gasket seating downwardly upon the entrance or upper por-- tion m of the exitpassage m. The upper end of stem M of valve M is attached to the block by a screw m in the same manner as stem j of valve J, and its lower portion is made smooth and of slightly less diameter than the vertical portion of the exit-passage, so that the spent water may drain freely from the cylinder F in the downstroke of the pressuretank in and through the horizontal side orifice m.

N represents a piston having a collar or gasket n and mounted within the cylinder F.

N is a tube of lesser diameter than cylinder F and attached by screw-thread to the upper nipple portion a of the piston, thus practically forming a hollow piston-rod. This tube is attached by means of a detachable block N and a threaded stem n and nut 47. to the center of the top plate of pressure-tan k A and moves up and down in cylinder F in carrying the pressure-tank in its vertical operative movements.

0 is a coiled spring mounted on the lift rod or shifter L below the piston and O is another coiled spring of the same power mounted on the shifter above the piston, a buffer or collar 0 being loosely placed upon the upper end of the spring 0, on which the piston strikes in the quick fall of the pressure-tank at the close of its downstroke to properly open the inlet-valve and close the outlet-valve, as hereinafter more fully described. Both these springs act in the capacity of cushions and as impact in the operations of opening and closing said valves. An abutment lock-nut 0 is placed on the upper end of the shifter-rod, against which the coil-spring O strikes to throw said shifter and respectively open and close the outlet and inlet valves. The orificed cap or collar fat the top of cylinder F is secured thereto by means of aset-screw F. (See Fig. 1.) Its opening is slightly larger than the tube N, and While forming a guide for the latter and also for the pressure-tank it at the same time provides an outlet for any air or water in cylinder F at its upper portion above the piston. Auxiliary chamber or air-trap G, lying beneath the governor-tank, is provided at its upper portion with a horizontal partition C, having a central orifice C for the upward passage of the air from the pressure-tank and conductor-pipe D.

G is a petcock in the bottom of trap C to provide a means of drainage in the event any water overflows or otherwise collects in the trap.

C is a horizontal exit-pipe leading from the upper end of trap C (above the partition 0) to the carbureter. (Not shown.)

B is a central orifice in the bottom of tank B, and B an uprightopen tube leading from said orifice B to almost a level with the rim or top of the tank B or just above the waterlevel in said tank. Surrounding this tube is a coiled spring I), secured at the top to the center of the governor-tank and at the bottom to a convex plate Win the bottom of the external water-tank B. This coiled spring I prefer rather than weights for this governortank for the reason that it is resilient and elastic,which is not so with solid dead-weights, and will not cause a sudden dead fall or shock to cause the lights to flicker or otherwise affect the air-pressure through the carbureter incident to the use of weights.

To prevent the pressure-tank turning or revolving in the water, I construct a vertical rib 4 along its side and a \l-forked plate or guide 0" on the rim of the water-tank, said rib riding up and down freely without undue friction in the guide 0" and answering the purpose fully and at the same time keeping the weighted lever of the inlet-valve in line with its strike-roller.

P represents an auxiliary valve mounted at the lower end of a rod Q in the air-trap O and designed to be used only when an extra or surplus pressure is 011 the machine through a possible overweighting of the pressure-tank. This valve properly closes off the air-supply leading from the pressure-tank by seating in the orifice, 0 when the governor-tank has risen its full upstroke, and it also serves to prevent the governor-tank blowing from place in the water seal. The rod Q is secured at its upper end in the center of the governor-top by means of nut q, and the valve P is of convexdisk form to readily seat in said orifice O In the operation of my blower apparatus to start the machine the valve I is first opened, whereby the water-pressure is admitted to the cylinder F through the inletopenings. The water-inlet valve J is also now open, owing to the pressure-tank being normally down. The water then forces the piston upward in its cylinder F, thereby cans ing the pressure-tank to ascend, during which time the top valve E remains open on account of the suction of the atmospheric air through the inlet-orifice E. hen the piston has progressed upward till its upper spring 0 strikes against the abutment-nut 0 on the valve-shifter L, both the valves at the lower end of said shifter are simultaneously actuated, so that the water-inlet valve J shall be closed and thereby shut off further water-pressure, and the outlet-valve M shall be opened and the water in the cylinder discharge from the aperture m into the watertank A. At the time the piston has reached its full upstroke the pressure-tank A has of course attained its full upstroke, as theyare connected together in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and hereinbefore described, and the pressure-tank is now ready for the downstroke. While the pressure-tank has been ascending, the check-valve D in the mouth of the conductor-pipe D has remained closed, and just as soon as this tank has completed its said upstroke the check valve opens, thereby permitting the air, which has been just previously entering and filling the tank, to pass unobstructed into the conductor-pipe D with the proper force occasioned by the descent of the tank. Both valves D' and E are held approximately in balance by their weighted levers, so that their operation is brought to a nicety, and the check-valve D able point.

is especially sensitive, as in the ascent or up stroke of the pressure-tank it really almost flutters closed and is held so through the upward suction of the rising pressure-tank and especially by means of the back pressure from the governor up the conductor-pipe. The rubber or flexible disks in these valves readily adapt themselves to their seats and make very effective and air-tight joints when they are closed. The weights E in the pressuretank accelerate its downward movement and thereby always secure the desired pressure. 011 the downstroke of the pressure-tank the water in the cylinder F drains gently off into and mingles with the water in the tank A, and in order that a constant level of water shall be maintained in thelatter the overflowpipe 0 carries off the incoming surplus from said cylinder F and discharges it at any suit- The inlet-entrance to the overflow-pipe is preferably at the bottom of the tank, so that the draining of the surplus water from the bottom shall not drain or disturb the floating oil in the water-tanks. When the pressure-tank has almost completed its downstroke, the outer projecting portion of the weighted lever e gently engages the antifricr tion-roller a on the water-tank rim, and in the further descent of the pressure-tank the inlet-valve E is tripped open while said outer end of the lever e rides freely on said roller, which latter in turn revolves on its axis and thereby presents practically a resistless trip device (with no friction to overcome) for the said air-inlet valve, which reduces the resistance and power necessary to trip to a minimum and does not affect or materially retard the said descent or downward movement of the pressure-tank, but aids it very materially in the tripping open of said valve. Valve E being now released the air in the pressure-tank rapidly escapes through the opening thus provided and the tank falls with much greater rapidity than before, being somewhat accelerated by the weights E as aforesaid, and the piston strikes (with some force) the buffer-collar 0, which latter in turn depresses the spring 0 against the block K, the result of the action being that the shifter-rod is instantly lowered and the outlet-valve M positively closed simultaneous with the opening of the inlet-valve J, all of which forms an important feature of my invention herein, the said valves J and M being both mounted on the one shifter-rod and operated simultaneous therewith at both ends of the stroke of the pressure-tank to permit the inflow and prevent the outflow of water on the one hand and to prevent the inflow and permit the outflow on the other and without affecting the air-pressure in the carbureter in the least or the lights in use. The drainage of the water from the cylinder F is confined to such proportions that the slowly reducing column formed thereby in the cylinder acts as a cushion to prevent undue shock in the fall or descent of the pressure-tank. During the descent of the pressure-tank and its piston the water-inlet valve J is held up to its seat by the service-water pressure beneath it, and during the ascent of the pressure-tank the water-outlet valve M is held down to its seat by the gravity and pressure of the water thereon surrounding and from above it, all of which is both simple and important in the successful operation of my device. The airpressure passes through the conductor-pipe into the chamber or trap C,and thence through orifice G into the exit-pipe G ,,which leads to the carbureter. A portion of the air-pressure passes upward through open pipe B into the governor-tank B, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, and this tank is provided so that the machine may be suited to a varying number of lights in use, as is customary. In the operations of the pressure-tank aforesaid, while it is ascending the governor-tank is slowly falling in its water seal and no air is being forced from it (said pressure-tank)down its conductor-pipe D, as the check-valve D is closed, as stated. During this period the governor-tank is practically supplying the carbureter with air and thus temporarily and alternately forms an auxiliary blower; but when the pressure-tank begins its downward movement and the check-valve opens then the governor-tank slowly rises and takes all surplus air not then used or needed in the carbureter and rises to correspond to the number of lights being used and to balance the pressure in the pressure-tank. When the pressure-tank has attained and completed the quick-falling movement occasioned by the tripping open of the inlet-valve E, the governor-tank simultaneously rises to some extent and thereby relieves the carbureter of any sudden shock or greater unusual pressure than necessary at that instant. The governor-tank also fails with the pressuretank a short portion of its downstroke when a greater number of lights are in use and somewhat after it has gotten a good start downward.

My machine throughout is at once simple in construction and also simple and effective in operation, whereby a perfectly steady light is readily maintained at all times without flicker and most economically. Any grade or quality of hydrocarbon can be obviously used in the carbureter,- as the supply of air thereto by my construction of machine is such that any impurities or imperfections therein are readily met and overcome by the perfect, steady, and constant pressure attained.

Instead of using my apparatus as a blower for a gas-machine it is evident that the exitpipe 0 may lead to aforge or other device or apparatus using an air-blast or a supply of air and be fully as efiective. It is also obvious (without any additional drawings or detail description being necessary, but which might herein be mentioned for more full enlightenment) that the air-pressure tank could be used for facilitating the circulation of air within a room or other inclosure. In that event no governor-tank, auxiliary trap-box, or check-valve in the top of the internal airconducting pipe would be necessary, the ascendin g tank drawing or sucking air of course through both the top inlet-valve and inwardly or backward through said conducting-pipe and the descending tank forcing the blast, with the said top valve closed, into the surrounding space.

I claim- 1. In a blower device, the combination with a vessel, of a cylinder therein, a piston in the cylinder, a pressuretank in the vessel and connected with the piston, and means for intermittingly passing a liquid intothe cylinder and discharging it into the vessel, substantially as set forth.

2. In a blowerdevice, the combination with a vessel, of a cylinder therein provided with an inlet and an outlet opening,'said inletopening comm unicatin g with the exterior and the outlet communicating with the interior of the vessel, a reciprocating block in the cylinder provided with means for controlling said openings, a piston in the cylinder, a tank in the vessel connected with the piston, and means for intermittingly operating the block, wherebya liquid may be passed into the cylinder and discharged into the vessel, substantially as set forth.

In a blower device, the combination with a vessel, of a flanged stock in the bottom of the vessel provided with an inlet and'an outlet opening, a cylinder secured to the stock, a piston in the cylinder, a block reciprocatingly connected with the piston and provided with means for controlling the openings, and a tank in the vessel connected with the piston, substantially as set forth.

4:. In ablower device, the combination,with a vessel, of a longitudinally and laterally per- 'forated stock in the bottom thereof, a cylinder secured to the stock, a block in the cylinder, rods secured to the block for controlling the openings in the stock, a'piston secured to the block, and a tank connected'to the piston, substantially as set forth.

5. In a blower device, the combination,with a vessel, of a longitudinally and laterally perforated stock in the bottom thereof, the outer end of the longitudinal perforation being enlarged and screw-threaded and provided with a valve-seat, a perforated plug in the screwthreaded portion of the stock, a cylinder in the vessel secured to the stock, a block in the cylinder, rods secured to the block and fitting Within the longitudinal perforations of the stock, one of which rods passes through the block in the screw-threaded portion of the perforation in the stock, a valve on each rod, a tank in the vessel, and means for connecting the tank with the block, substantially as set forth.

6. In a blower device, the combination with a tank or vessel, of an overflow leading up ward from near the bottom thereof, a liquid seal within the vessel, a pressure-tank within the vessel, an air-outlet leading from the pressure-tank, and means for interrnittingly admitting a liquid to the seal, and then disoharging it through the overflow, substantially as set forth.

7. In a blower, the combination, with a water vessel provided with a water-inlet, and a water-outlet, of a valve in the water-inlet, an air-conduit leading from the interior of the water vessel, an air-outlet valve in said airconduit, a vertically-movable pressure-tank within the water vessel and connected with the water-inlet valve, said pressure-tank being provided ,with an air -inlet valve, and means for changing said air-inlet valve into an air exhaust or outlet valve near the limit of the downward movement of the pressuretank, substantially as set forth.

8. In a blower, the combination, with a water vessel provided with a water-inlet and a water-outlet, of an air-conduit leading from the interior of the said vessel, a vertically movable pressuretank within the vessel, the upper portion of which is provided with an air-valve, and means for opening said airvalve near the limit of the downward movement of the pressure-tank, a valve in the water-inlet of the vessel, and means for connect in g the same with the pressure-tank, substantially as set forth.

9. In a blower, the combination, with a water vessel, provided with a water-inlet and a water-outlet, of an air-conduit leading from the interior of the vessel, a pressure-tank Within the vessel, the upper portion of which is provided with an inwardly-opening airvalve, a weighted arm connected with the said air-valve and projecting beyond the edge of the pressure-tank, the outer end of which is adapted to engage with the side of the vessel near the limit of its downward movement, whereby the air-valve is forcibly opened, a valve in the water-inlet, and means for connecting said water-inlet valve with the pressure-tank, substantially as set forth.

10. In an air pressure or blower apparatus for gas-machines and other purposes, the combination with a pressure-tank having-its open, lower end immersed in a watertank of suitable air inlet and outlet valved openings in said tanks; a suitable overflow in the watertank; a water pressure supply or service pipe leading to the bottom of the water-tank; an upright cylinder in the water-tank; a piston sliding in said cylinder and provided with an upright hollow rod connecting it to the head of said pressure-tank; a single shifterbar mounted within said cylinder and hollow rod, upon a coupling-block; a pair of valves mounted on the bottom of said coupling-block and engaging, simultaneously, one a waterinlet opening and the other a water drainage or exit opening; and suitable cushioning and impact devices together with abutments mounted or said shifter-bar above and below the piston, which latter slides independently I Water-tank and tapping it below the level of over said shifter-bar; whereby the feed and discharge of Water to and from the tanks is simultaneously controlled, at both ends of the stroke of the pressure-tank, by means of the one shifter-bar, substantially as herein set forth.

11. In an air blower or pressure apparatus for gas-machines and other purposes, the com 10 bination of a pressure-tank immersed open end down in a water-tank; an overflow ordischarge pipe attached at its lower end to the the body of Water therein and having its upper or discharge end on a level with the normal level of said body of water; and a layer or charge of oil floating undisturbed on the water Within said tanks, substantially as herein set forth.

JOS. STUBBERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. JoNEs, L. M. JONES. 

